Digital Authentication Elements for Tamper-Proof Sports Credentials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication and identification systems in semi-professional and professional sports, as well as for licenses and ID cards, are inefficient and often paper-based, making it difficult to keep user data up to date and perform authentication and identification quickly.
Innovation Solution
A fully digital authentication and identification system utilizing a storage module, uniquely assigned authentication elements, an input and data collection module inaccessible to users, and an output module for reading and displaying, with data stored centrally or decentralized, and using blockchain technology for security and integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If paper-based authentication systems are used, then ease of manufacture and simplicity are improved, but authentication speed and data update efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical paper-based authentication elements with digital copies stored on authentication elements (e.g., RFID tags, smart cards) that contain encrypted user data. This allows rapid electronic verification without the need for physical document handling, thereby increasing authentication speed while maintaining security through cryptographic copying of user information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical paper-based verification process with an electronic authentication system using readers, writers, and centralized databases. The mechanical handling of physical documents is replaced by electronic data transmission and processing, enabling much faster authentication while improving data update efficiency through centralized management.
2Device complexity
If paper-based license systems are used, then device complexity is reduced, but data update efficiency and authentication reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a centralized database that receives feedback about user status changes (e.g., license expirations, qualification updates) and automatically updates authentication elements. This feedback mechanism ensures that authentication information is always current and reliable, preventing use of outdated or invalid credentials while maintaining system integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading user authentication data onto portable authentication elements during enrollment. This ensures that the authentication elements contain accurate, up-to-date information before use, improving reliability by eliminating the need for on-site manual verification of documents.
3Reliability
If centralized data storage is used, then data consistency and authentication security are improved, but system complexity and data management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication system into distinct functional modules: a centralized database for data storage, portable authentication elements for data carriers, readers for data acquisition, and writers for data programming. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, managing overall system complexity while maintaining centralized data consistency through standardized communication protocols.
4Ease of operation
If manual authentication processes are used, then ease of operation is improved, but authentication time and processing efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service authentication where users present their authentication elements (e.g., smart cards, RFID tags) to readers, and the system automatically verifies credentials against the centralized database without requiring manual intervention. This maintains ease of operation for users while dramatically reducing authentication time through automated verification processes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an authentication and/or identification system (10) for authenticating and/or identifying a user, withat least one storage module (22);at least one authentication and/or identification element (40) that is uniquely assigned to a user;at least one input and data collection module (24) which is not accessible to the user and by means of which the authentication and/or identification element (40) can be created and/or modified; andat least one output module (50), by means of which the authentication and/or identification element (40) can be read and/or displayed.Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method therefor and to the use of the authentication and/or identification system (10) for authenticating and/or identifying a user and/or for implementing a digital and/or electronic sports equipment and/or sports device passport.